Filling a Drawer Full of CCW Holsters – Part One

If you talk to people that carry consistently or read articles on the subject, one of the things common to all is the large collection of holsters people eventually develop. Doing my part as a member of that community, I’ve built a respectable collection of my own in a relatively short amount of time.

Being an advocate of sharing information, I thought I’d share what I’ve learned here. The following isn’t intended to be a review of holsters, but rather a sharing of what I’ve learned as I embrace the carry lifestyle.

When I consider a holster, I’m concerned with three areas:

• Safety– The holster must securely hold the gun in place and must completely cover the trigger. These are absolute requirements (for me).
• Concealment– The holster needs to hold the gun in such a way as to avoid or minimize printing. Concealed means concealed. A law enforcement officer or a person who carries may be able to tell, but the average person should have no idea an individual is armed.
• Comfort– If it’s not comfortable, it won’t be carried daily. It won’t be perfect but generally speaking the holster should hardly be felt when worn.

We’re very fortunate to be living in the “golden age” of concealed carry. All across America, with the exception of a handful of backward states, the number of concealed carry permit holders is growing at a rapid rate. That rate of growth has been increasing every year with over 17 million permit holders currently in America.

Because of this popularity, the number of high quality holsters available is very large and growing everyday. The following are my observations on the holsters I’ve tried so far:

• Bigfoot Leather Gun Belt with Steel Core – I discovered a huge difference between using a regular belt and one designed to support a gun and holster. The Bigfoot belt is comfortable, well made and supports the gun much better than a regular belt. Make a leather gun belt with steel core one of your first purchases.
• Alien Gear Shape Shift – I purchased the starter kit that actually gives you several interchangeable holster configurations. By purchasing a second shell, I can use all those configurations for two different guns. The shape shift is a hybrid holster made of a hard, interchangeable Kydex shell and several softer synthetic materials. The holster is extremely comfortable, conceals well, and holds my gun securely. I tend to use this one most often.
• Vedder LightTuck IWB – This is a single clip hard Kydex shell holster. It is secure and conceals well. Its not quite as comfortable as the hybrids but not bad. The convenience of the single clip attachment point comes in handy if you need to lock your gun in your vehicle while visiting a prohibited location. I carry this occasionally.
• Clinger No-Print Wonder – This is a Kydex/Leather Hybrid with a smaller footprint than the others. On me it doesn’t seem to conceal as well as the others, but it’s not bad. It’s reasonably comfortable and very secure.
• Brave Response Holster – This is more of a soft bellyband type, deep concealment holster. This works well with clothing like sweat pants or shorts, as it doesn’t require a belt. It is very comfortable and secure although the retention snap may make drawing from this holster slower. This holster is also pricey for what you get, but it does the job. Since the trigger guard is covered by soft material it doesn’t work for me. I carry a Glock 26 with a round chambered so I feel more comfortable with hard material over the trigger guard.
• MTAC IWB Hybrid Holster from CompTac – This one is a Kydex/Leather hybrid that I’m currently trying out. So far it’s not quite as comfortable as the Alien Gear holster but everything else about it is great. I suspect that once the leather softens up this will be one of my favorite holsters.

I want to reiterate that choosing a holster is a very personal thing. What works perfectly for one person is terrible for another. Body type, carry position, weight, and personal preferences all impact your choice.

All of the above holsters seemed well made and functioned as advertised. Any one of them, I’m sure, would be perfect for any number of people. The point is to try out a bunch, find your perfect go-to holster, and carry everyday.

If you want to keep your newly regained CCW rights along with the rest of your 2A rights, defend them by joining San Diego County Gun Owners (SDCGO), the California Rifle and Pistol Association (CRPA), and the National Rifle Association (NRA). Join the fight and help us restore and preserve our second amendment rights. Together we will win.

©2018 Joseph T Drammissi